THERE is no creature that the Lord has created that does not receive His care and attention. He not only shows His regard for man, but the bird and the dumb brute as well have the evidence of the Lord’s kindness toward them.
A PEASANT OF PALESTINE.
“BEHOLD the fowls of the air; for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them.” Then the Saviour adds, “Are ye not much better than they?” Matt. 6: 26. The Lord would have us observe His care for the birds, and from this learn a lesson of His care for us.
AGAIN do we see the Lord’s care for his dumb creatures in the words, “Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together.” Deut. 22: 10. Either the harness of the ass or the yoke of the ox would be galling the one to the other. They are two different species of animals, and to be yoked together in work could not be pleasant. If the man in our illustration were heeding this Scripture command, the artist could not have given us the picture that he has.
THE Lord created the dumb brute, as well as man. But to man was given the dominion. He was to have authority over the beast of the field. And the man who is in harmony with his Maker will not merely exercise authority over the brute, and make it serve him, but the animal will cause his mind to revert to the Creator. The thought will ever be on the kindness of God in creating these domestic animals for man to enjoy and use. Their grace and beauty, as well as their strength, will be a continued source of delight. This is as the heavenly Father intended that it should be.
NO MAN can be a true Christian and abuse any one of God’s creatures. If God’s care for the sparrows is a lesson to us of how He cares for us, it also should be a lesson to us of how He cares for the sparrows. That which is so carefully regarded by the Lord should receive tender consideration from us. And when we are tempted to abuse a dumb creature, we should think of the fact that the Creator of that animal or bird is hurt thru the pain that I am inflicting upon it.
IF we would only take the time to study the Lord’s ways more, we would be impressed with His tenderness and kindness. His care for the lowliest of His creatures shows the gentleness of His nature, notwithstanding His infinite greatness. Then how can we offend our2kind heavenly Father by unkind words and deeds. How much brighter and happier this world would be if we only studied to know and practise the real gentleness of God!
“THOU hast also given me the shield of Thy salvation; and Thy gentleness hath made me great. Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did not slip.” 2 Sam. 22: 36, 37. David in this psalm is telling his experience. He had passed thru sore trials. His life had been eagerly sought by King Saul. But during this time David had been studying the gentleness of the Lord, rather than plotting revenge on Saul. The Lord dealt with Saul and all the rest of David’s enemies, and as the result of the trial David could say, “Thy gentleness hath made me great.”
LET us study to know the gentleness of God. There is powerful character in it. It is a power in doing aggressive good, and it is also a powerful bulwark against the aggressiveness of all evil. T.
